The moon orbits from the west to the east, but because of the way the Earth rotates the moon seems to be rotating east to west.
New moon to waxing crescent: 4 days
Waxing moon to first quarter: 3 days
First quarter to waxing gibbous: 3 days
Waxing gibbous to full moon: 4 days
Full moon to waning gibbous: 4 days
Waning gibbous to last quarter: 4 days
Last quarter to waning crescent: 4 days
Waning crescent to new moon: 3 days
Quiz One
Quiz Two
The moon is a very interesting and fact filled planet. The moon revolves around the Earth each day. As it revolves us on Earth see the moon differently. In the beginning it is a new moon, you will not be able to see the moon at all.
A new moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth then the sun. It appears all lit up and fully visible. Between the full moon and the first quarter the waxing crescent will occur. During the waxing crescent phase you will only be able to see one-eighth of the moon lit up. There is also a waxing gibbous phase. This phase occurs between the first quarter and a full moon.
Three other phases of the moon are: waning crescent, waning gibbous, and the full moon. The waning gibbous occurs between the full moon and the last quarter. During this phase one-eighth of the moon will not appear lit up. The waning crescent phase of the moon can be seen between the last quarter and a new moon; the moon will appear one-eighth lit. There is also the full moon phase. This phase occurs when the moon is half way through is revolution and you can see a full disk when you look at the moon.
Four days after a new moon, the moon will appear as a waxing crescent. As another 3 days go by you will see the first quarter of the moon. The transition between the first quarter and waxing gibbous occurs in a 3 day period. It now take another four days to become a full moon. After the full moon you start seeing less and less of the moon. You will see a waning gibbous moon. Four days later the last quarter will appear. Soon after a waning crescent will be seen. Then three days later the moon will be new again.
New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent are the eight phases of the moon. This is why the moon appears differently each night.
My Moon!
The moon orbits from the west to the east, but because of the way the Earth rotates the moon seems to be rotating east to west.
New moon to waxing crescent: 4 days
Waxing moon to first quarter: 3 days
First quarter to waxing gibbous: 3 days
Waxing gibbous to full moon: 4 days
Full moon to waning gibbous: 4 days
Waning gibbous to last quarter: 4 days
Last quarter to waning crescent: 4 days
Waning crescent to new moon: 3 days
The moon is a very interesting and fact filled planet. The moon revolves around the Earth each day. As it revolves us on Earth see the moon differently. In the beginning it is a new moon, you will not be able to see the moon at all.
A new moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth then the sun. It appears all lit up and fully visible. Between the full moon and the first quarter the waxing crescent will occur. During the waxing crescent phase you will only be able to see one-eighth of the moon lit up. There is also a waxing gibbous phase. This phase occurs between the first quarter and a full moon.
Three other phases of the moon are: waning crescent, waning gibbous, and the full moon. The waning gibbous occurs between the full moon and the last quarter. During this phase one-eighth of the moon will not appear lit up. The waning crescent phase of the moon can be seen between the last quarter and a new moon; the moon will appear one-eighth lit. There is also the full moon phase. This phase occurs when the moon is half way through is revolution and you can see a full disk when you look at the moon.
Four days after a new moon, the moon will appear as a waxing crescent. As another 3 days go by you will see the first quarter of the moon. The transition between the first quarter and waxing gibbous occurs in a 3 day period. It now take another four days to become a full moon. After the full moon you start seeing less and less of the moon. You will see a waning gibbous moon. Four days later the last quarter will appear. Soon after a waning crescent will be seen. Then three days later the moon will be new again.
New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent are the eight phases of the moon. This is why the moon appears differently each night.